August 13, 2013

Big Story Weather – August 13, 2013

Big Story Weather from August 12: Another day of heat over the Southwest while a few thunderstorms also pushed through the area. Severe weather yesterday included the largest hail at 2 inches in South Dakota. The strongest winds were 55-65mph which occurred in both Oklahoma and Texas. Flooding rains continued to hamper parts of the Mid-Mississippi Valley, while an area of interest developed in the tropics to the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Big Story Weather Discussion for August 13:

Surface Map: A cold front draping from the Northeast back into the Gulf Coast will be the focus for showers and thunderstorms today. Another cold front pushing through the Northern Plains will be the focus for additional showers and thunderstorms. High pressure over the Northern Gulf will bring afternoon showers and thunderstorms to the Gulf Coast. Low pressure over southern Arizona will bring afternoon showers and thunderstorms to the region. High pressure over the Rockies will keep the region dry and warm. The West Coast will see another mild to warm and dry day.

Severe Weather: There are multiple areas of concern today. The first is over the Southwest from Arizona into New Mexico. This region will see isolated wind damage and heavy rainfall. The second is along the Gulf Coast. This area will also see heavy rainfall along with some damaging winds. The third location over the Northern Plains will mostly see damaging winds, large hail and flooding rains. The East Coast will also be dealing with heavy rainfall, isolated wind damage and hail.

Tropical Weather: We are now watching the region just to the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula for potential tropical development within the next couple of days as the storm drifts slowly northward towards the Gulf of Mexico. Winds are around 15kts and pressure estimated near 1012mb.

Select City Forecast:

Boston MA: Partly cloudy skies with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps around 67F and lows near 63F. Total rainfall will be around 0.50 inches.

Atlanta GA: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps near 84F and lows near 72F. Total rainfall near 0.45 inches.

Sioux City IA: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps near 77F and lows near 65F. Total rainfall near 0.25 inches.

Salt Lake City UT: Partly cloudy today and warm with a high near 89F and lows near 70F.

San Diego CA: Partly cloudy and mild with a high near 83F and lows near 62F.

August 13, 2013 Storm Tracker Update:

Eastern Pacific Ocean: Low pressure to the southwest of Hawaii is being watched for possible tropical development. Winds are around 25kts and pressure near 1008mb. A second tropical wave pushing away from Mexico is also being watched for possible tropical development. Winds are around 25kts and pressure near 1008mb. Low pressure moving across Alaska will bring another day of showers to the region.

Atlantic Ocean: Low pressure moving into the Northeast will be the focus for showers and thunderstorms all along the East Coast and into the Gulf Coast. Low pressure to the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula is also being watched for possible tropical development. Winds are around 15kts and pressure near 1012mb. This storm will slowly push northward. Low pressure moving towards England will bring showers to the area. Another wave pushing off the coast of Africa will need to be watched for potential tropical development as well.

Western Pacific: Typhoon Utor continues tracking across towards Southeast China. This storm is very strong and powerful with winds around 100kts and pressure near 948mb and is expected to make landfall south of Hong Kong in Southeast China. Expect to see devastating conditions in the region as this powerful storm pushes towards the coast. Low pressure moving across Northeast Russia will bring showers to the region. Another low pressure area to the south of Guam is being watched for possible tropical development.

Indian Ocean: The Southwest monsoon will be very active again today bringing heavy rainfall across portions of India and Sri Lanka.

Southern Hemisphere: Multiple areas of low pressure are moving across the basin with impacts being felt in Southern Argentina and Chile with rain showers and some snow showers. A second low is bringing gusty winds and showers to portions of South Africa. A third frontal boundary will bring showers and cooler weather to Southeast Australia and New Zealand.

Five-Day Storm Index Outlook for August 13-17:

Boston MA: The region will see slight impacts today as a frontal boundary moves through the region bringing thunderstorms and showers. There will be another slight to moderate impact on Aug 16 as a second frontal boundary brings more showers and thunderstorms to the region.

Atlanta GA: The region will see slight to moderate impacts each afternoon as thunderstorms develop over the area.

Sioux City IA: The area will have slight impacts today associated with thunderstorms. On Aug 17th the region will have another round of showers and thunderstorms impacting the area.

Salt Lake City UT: The area will be mostly impact free, however there will be a slight impact on Aug 15 as showers and thunderstorms move through the area.

San Diego CA: The next five days will be impact free for the area.

Climate Watch for August 8-12:

Boston MA: The area started with temps around 1-5 degrees below normal and then finished the period around 1-4 degrees above normal.

Atlanta GA: The area started about 6 degrees below normal and then the remainder of the period was around 1-2 degrees above normal.

Sioux City IA: The region has seen temps around 1-10 degrees below normal for the past five days.

Salt Lake City UT: The region has been warm with temps around 1-3 degrees above normal through the entire period.

San Diego CA: The past five days temps have been around 3-4 degrees below normal for the area.

Major Weather Impacts Discussion for August 13, 2013:

Day 1-3: A frontal boundary moving over the East Coast will bring showers and thunderstorms from Maine to Florida and back into the Gulf Coast. A frontal boundary moving through the Plains will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region. The Rockies will be under high pressure, while the West Coast will be mild and dry. Day two the frontal boundary will extend from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast bringing showers and thunderstorms to the region. High pressure will build in over the Northern Plains and Great Lakes bringing a cooler few days to the region. Thunderstorms will be over portions of the Eastern Rockies. A tropical wave will be pushing towards the Yucatan Peninsula during this time. The period will finish with high pressure in control of the weather from the Plains to the East Coast. The frontal boundary will remain in place from the Southeast to the Gulf Coast bringing another day of showers and thunderstorms to the area. The tropical feature will begin to hit the southern Gulf of Mexico during this time as well.

Day 4-7: The period will start with high pressure in control from the Great Lakes to the Northeast. The frontal boundary will still be over the Gulf Coast bringing showers and thunderstorms to the region. The tropical feature will begin to push into the Gulf of Mexico slowly towards the north. A new frontal boundary will bring showers and thunderstorms to the Northern Plains. Day five high pressure will be over the Northeast. The tropical feature will make landfall over the Northern Gulf of Mexico with strong winds, heavy rains and isolated tornadoes along with some storm surge. The rest of the country will be fairly tranquil. The tropical feature will push into the Southeast by day six and the rest of the country will still be tranquil. The period will end with the tropical moisture advancing into the Mid-Atlantic region, while the Northern Plains see another cold front push in with showers and thunderstorms.

Day 8-12: The period will start with two pockets of showers and thunderstorms. The first area will be over the Mid-Atlantic and the second will be over Western Kansas and Oklahoma. Day ten a storm system will bring showers to the East Coast, while another tropical feature heads towards Puerto Rico. Another storm system will push into the Northern Plains. Day eleven a strong storm system will push into the Western Great Lakes and moisture will remain over the Southeast. Tropical feature will push slightly closer to Cuba. The period will end with a surge in tropical moisture over Cuba and also a frontal boundary moving through the Great Lakes.

Long Range Outlook: The period will start with a storm system along the East Coast bringing showers and thunderstorms. Another storm system will push through the Plains and another strong storm will head into Alaska. The middle of the period will have ample moisture from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast and a very powerful storm hitting Alaska. The period will finish very active with multiple storm systems over the US.

Today's Spotlight Forecast is for Mobile AL:

Tuesday: Partly cloudy hot with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps will be around 94F. Winds from the northwest 5-10mph as overnight lows fall to around 78F. Total rainfall will be near 0.25 inches.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps will be around 83F. Winds from the northwest 2-7mph as overnight lows fall to around 73F. Total rainfall will be near 0.40 inches.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps around 92F. Winds from the East 5-10mph as overnight lows fall to around 74F. Total rainfall near 0.30 inches.

Friday: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps around 94F. Winds from the northeast 5-10mph as overnight lows fall to around 75F. Total rainfall will be near 0.10 inches.

Saturday: Partly cloudy hot with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps around 96F. Winds from the southwest 5-10mph s overnight lows fall to near 77F. Total rainfall will be near 0.10 inches.

Ask The Weatherman for August 13, 2013:

Question: What is onshore flow?

Answer: If you live near an ocean you have probably heard this term used in your local forecast. This term "onshore flow" means that the winds are blowing from the sea to the land. This type of wind can push warmer weather to the shore. If you live by cooler waters it could push cooler air over the land.

*** To have your question of the day answered or have your city spotlighted for the day make sure to visit redOrbit on Facebook. ***

Green Energy Weather Report for August 13, 2013:

Wave Energy: There will be light to moderate amounts of energy along the Northeast Coast extending into the Mid-Atlantic. The Southeast will have light amounts. The Northern Gulf of Mexico will be light to moderate. The Southwest and Northwest regions will see slight to moderate amounts of energy.

Solar Energy: There will be small amounts of solar energy along the East Coast as well as the Southeast and Gulf Coast. There will be ample amounts of solar energy over the Rockies into the Western US.

Wind Energy: The best place for wind energy today will be over the Northern Rockies and the Central Rockies behind the cold front.

Hydro-Energy: There will be moderate amounts of hydro energy from the Northeast to the Southeast. The Gulf Coast will have lower amounts of energy. There will be moderate amounts of energy over the Southern Plains into the Mid-Mississippi River Valley. There will also be moderate amounts of energy over portions of the Great Lakes and smaller amounts over the Southwest.

August 13 Weather and Your Wallet (Minneapolis MN):

High pressure will begin to build into the region allowing for cooler weather by this evening.

Dining: Today will be a great day to enjoy an outdoor lunch, however tonight you will want a light jacket.

Transportation: There should be no weather issues across the area today.

Shopping: Today will be a pleasant day to enjoy the Mall of Americas.

Electricity: There will be a small window of time that the heaters may need to be on during the overnight hours with the forecast for 33HDD's.

Yard Work: A nice day to get some grass cut or weeds pulled from the garden.

Construction: There should be no issues with the outdoor projects today.